Perpignan - The City, the Mediterranean and Catalonia
Antonio Bonito
The city of Perpignan is located in the southernmost part of the Languedoc in the south of France. It is a perfect destination for lovers of the sea, mountains, nature, history and art. It also possesses mile after mile of wide sandy beaches extending from the Spanish border all the length of the Vermillion coast. It is a not-to-be-missed cultural center for anyone visiting south-west France or northern Spain.
The city of Perpignan is situated in the region of France known as Languedoc-Roussillon. It is right on the Mediterranean coast, not far from the Spanish border, and has the Pyrenees as a stunning backdrop, together with the famous Corbieres wine-growing region. Perpignon is also the most southern City in France.
Perpignan also has a unique and most interesting history, and is equally well-known for its architecture as for the modern-day tourist industry. It is also very well-known for its world-famous rail station, the ceiling of which was painted by the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali, who called the station the "cosmological center of the universe".
Perpignan is old, very old! The area surrounding the city, formerly known as Ruscino (which lent its name to the whole of the region), was inhabited from the sixth century BC, and was a major trading partner with the Greek nations. In the second century BC it was taken possession of by the invading Celts. Howevern Perpignan as it is known today came into being during the middle ages when it belonged to the Counts of Roussillon who made it their headquarters. The city later on was bequeathed to the King of Aragon, in northern Spain, before passing into the hands of the kingdom of Majorca. Many of the remaining historical features of the town date from this period.
The city of Perpignan is also remarkable for possessing one of the most astonishing carillons in existence. It is the only surviving intact carillon with a range of four octaves and dates from the nineteenth century. A work of the foundry Amedee Bollee and Sons from Mans, it was presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1878 before being installed at Perpignan.
In 1996 the carillon, owned by the state, was fully restored by the French carillon specialists, Herepian. Since then, the carillon players, nominated by Episcopal decree, have been employed to demonstrate the instrument at its best. Since its electrification in 1956, every single day, morning, mid-day and evening, successive sacristans sit before the keyboard and play the prayer for the Angelus.
Perpignan is also the proud owner of four museums: the Museum of Catalan Arts and Popular Traditions, the Museum of Coins and Medals (one of the most important in France), the Museum of Natural History, and the Hyacinthe Rigaud Museum of Painting. All four museums possess magnificent collections.
As if that isn't enough, it's unbelievable that in a conurbation such as Perpignan, teeming with people, there are still acres of land inhabited by nesting birds of all kinds. But not surprising once you realise that the central area of the town also contains over 130 hectares of parkland, with over 2000 hectares of outlying cultivated land, all conserving a huge variety of wildlife and bird species.
Moving on to the culinary arts, naturally enough the native cuisine of Perpignan is of Catalan origin - a gastronomic experience not to be missed if you are new to these parts.
So after all that, it only remains to wish you happy holidays and happy encounters with the magnificent city of Perpignan.
For further information on France, the French lifestyle and Rennes in French, please visit http://www.quepourtoi.com/rencontres/rennes.php) Rencontres Rennes at Antonio Bonito's QuePourToi.com http://www.quepourtoi.com/) rencontres coquines web site.
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